“I’m telling you, this ship is cursed,” Richard said as we stood on the dock switching out our boat-approved slippers for shoes.
“Be quiet,” I whispered to him as I peeked up at the ship. Mandy stood two levels above us on the rear deck, so I gave her a final wave and she waved back. “Someone might hear you.”
“I’m with Richard.” Kate slipped her heels back on. “This boat gives me the creeps.”
“It’s not the ship that’s the problem,” Richard said. “It’s that awful stepmother and her Guy Friday.”
I looked up again at Mandy, hoping she was the only one who’d heard that, but she was too engrossed in a conversation with Captain Hammer and the first mate to notice us. It looked like the captain wasn’t too pleased. Jan looked as surly as he had before, so he wasn’t a good indicator. I hoped we hadn’t caused problems for Mandy since she’d been one of the few people on board who’d been nice to us, but I guessed he was more upset about the injured deckhand and the recurring accidents.
“Well, we’re going to have to deal with both of them,” I said. “You heard what Mrs. Barbery said.”
Our audience with the bride’s stepmother had been brief and chilly. With Jeremy Johns standing behind her and grinning like the Cheshire cat, Mrs. Barbery had announced we were to incorporate his vision into the wedding, because Kristie was too young to know what she really wanted.
“Diamond Weddings doesn’t feature weddings that are simple and elegant,” she’d informed us in a slightly nasal voice that occasionally veered into a British accent. “And they don’t care if a color has positive vibrations.” She’d used air quotes on this, as if we had any doubt what she thought of her stepdaughter’s ideas.
“Now I’m going to go back and finish my massage before someone else falls down a flight of stairs or breaks something and I have to fire everyone on board.” She’d flounced back to her stateroom before we could argue, and Jeremy had blown us a kiss as he slammed the door behind them.
“I heard her,” Richard said. “But what are we going to tell Kristie?”
“You mean if we ever find her?” Kate started walking down the dock, still looking over her shoulder.
“Watch where you’re go—” I called out as Kate walked smack into a guy who might’ve stepped out of a Ralph Lauren ad. She really did have all the luck.
The man held Kate by the shoulders to keep her from falling over. “Are you okay?”
She nodded as she looked up at him, but she didn’t seem able to speak. I’d seen Kate look at a guy like that a few dozen times before, and it was never good.
I couldn’t exactly blame her though. The guy was gorgeous. Sandy blond hair that fell over his face just a little, muscled arms with enough of a tan to indicate he wasn’t from DC, and eyes blue enough for me to notice from a few feet away. I fought the urge to knock Kate into the water and take him for myself.
“Did she seriously just meet someone on the docks?” Richard said to me under his breath.
“You’re just jealous,” I whispered back.
Richard raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t you?”
I felt my cheeks flush. I hated that Richard knew me so well.
“Did I hear you say you’re looking for a bride?” the man asked. When none of us did anything but nod, he said, “I may be able to help you.”
Kate’s face fell. “Are you the groom?”
The man laughed. “No. I’m Kristie’s brother. Well, technically stepbrother.” He held out his hand. “I’m Brody.”
Kate melted into a smile again. Richard and I both shook his hand while Kate just held onto his other arm.
“Do you know where we can find Kristie by any chance?” I asked, trying to catch Kate’s eye and motion for her to detach from the bride’s brother.
“I passed her when I was just pulling into the parking lot.” Brody motioned over his shoulder. “She waved, but she didn’t look happy. I guess she had another fight with my mom?”
Richard and I just looked at each other and didn’t say anything. Kate continued to stare at Brody.
He waved a hand. “You don’t have to worry about me. I know how crazy my mother can be. She’s never really understood Kristie or me. That’s probably why Kristie and I always got along so well. We’ve been like best friends since our parents married three years ago.”
Despite his being prettier than me, I really liked this guy. It helped that he was nothing like his mother.
“You don’t know where she might have been headed, do you?” I asked.
“No.” He pulled a cell phone out of his pocket and punched a speed dial number. “But I know someone who might.”
“Her fiancé?” I asked.
“No,” Brody said. “My girlfriend.”
Kate dropped her hand from his arm. “Your what?”
“Kristie and my girlfriend are good friends. Yasmine is actually one of the bridesmaids.”
Yasmine. I remembered the name from the bridal party information Kristie had sent us. Just the name sounded exotic and gorgeous, and I knew Kate would despise her on sight.
Brody smiled at us. “If this wedding goes well, maybe you’ll get to plan mine someday.”
Kate looked at me and mouthed the words “I quit.”